12 January 2021
Parents of students receiving remote learning
Dear Parent/Guardian
I hope that you and your families are keeping safe and well at this difficult time.
As you know, from yesterday Monday 11 January, schools will be closed to students and all
students at primary and post-primary level will now move to a programme of remote
learning.
While NPHET is of the view that schools remain safe environments, the decision to close
schools was taken in order to minimise mobility of the entire population and to support the
suppression of the Covid-19 virus in the community. This will allow everyone to reduce their
contacts, with a view to reducing the spread of the virus and a swift return to school for all.
Remote Learning during this period
Following the initial period of school closure last year, the Department has engaged with
the education partners to revise remote teaching and learning guidance. This was agreed
with all stakeholders last year and guidance for primary and post-primary schools was
subsequently published online in October and December 2020 respectively.
As such, during this time, all teachers, including special education teachers (SETs), are
required to continue to support teaching and learning for all pupils/students in their
class/subject group or on their caseload.
Schools have been advised of the need to ensure appropriate provision and support for
pupils/students during this time. Every school has been advised of the need to develop a
contingency plan for remote learning that is appropriate to children’s different ages and
stages, and has been provided with guidance on best practice. The guidance provided to
schools notes that it is crucially important that the learning of all pupils/students, especially
those with special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage and/or
early school leaving, are supported at this time. These guidelines are listed at the end of
this letter.
Schools have been provided with funding as part of the Digital Strategy for Schools. In
2020 funding totaling €100m in 2020 was provided to schools and schools have been
advised to prioritise supporting the purchase of devices for students who may not have
access to devices for remote learning. The School Support services that are funded by the
Department have developed a suite of materials to assist teachers in using an online
platform to support teaching, learning and assessment. Furthermore, there is a range of
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supports available to schools from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), the
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, Junior Cycle for Teachers, An
Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscoilaíochta, National Educational
Psychological Service, Education Centres and the Centre for School Leadership.
There has been an excellent take up by teachers throughout the country of training and
supports provided in this area, and I know that schools will do their utmost in these difficult
circumstances to provide the best possible experience for students. Schools will contact
parents directly with their plans and arrangements for remote learning.
The Inspectorate of the Department will continue to offer an advisory service to schools to
support the delivery of remote learning and to provide assistance to school leaders in
particular. The Inspectorate will also evaluate and report on the quality of educational
provision for students at this time.
Returning to in-person learning for all schools
The Department is conscious that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at
individual, family and societal level. For children, it impacts on wellbeing, learning, on social
and emotional development.
School closure has significant impacts on children with special educational needs. School
closure also heightens student anxiety, particularly for the Leaving Certificate cohort, in
relation to state examinations.
The Government decision included provision that in-person learning would be maintained
for two specific cohorts from Monday 11, pupils/ students attending special schools and
classes and final year Leaving Certificate students. Despite the confirmation by Public
Health that schools remain safe, unfortunately it has not proved possible to get agreement
to provide in-person learning for these two groups. In these circumstance there is no
alternative but to pause the limited reopening and continue engagement with partners. I will
keep parents of these students updated on this engagement.
The latest public health advice received by Government is available here. It clearly outlines
that schools are safe environments, and that the protective measures and the considerable
supports put in place to support schools have been successful.
Where there have been cases in schools, the enhanced school teams put in place by
Public Health and the Department have worked effectively to support schools, and the level
of transmission in schools has been low. Because of this, we continue to aim to return all
students to in-person learning as soon as it is possible to do so.
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Supports and wellbeing
It is important that students experience continuity of learning during this period to the extent
that is possible for your family, bearing in mind your child’s age and stage. Research
conducted in Ireland concluded that while online learning worked for some students during
the period of school closure, it did not replicate the in-school learning experience – this was
also the experience internationally.
We all know that it can be difficult to achieve maximum interaction with remote learning,
with many competing demands and restrictions. The best advice is that you provide the
support that is possible for your family to your child and that you prioritise your child’s and
your own wellbeing, balancing that with supporting learning, during this period.
Links to some supports available are provided below.
I wish you and your family all the very best at this time, and hope to communicate soon with
you on a safe return to in-person learning for all.
Regards,
______________________________
Norma Foley TD
Minister for Education
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Information on guidance provided to schools on remote learning
The guidance provided to schools that it is crucially important that the learning of all
pupils/students, especially those with special educational needs and those at risk of
educational disadvantage and/or early school leaving, are supported at this time, and sets
out the following requirements:
Regular engagement with pupils/students: It is important that teachers engage with
their pupils/students; in a primary setting this should, ideally, be on a daily basis; in
a post-primary context teachers should, as far as possible, engage with students as
per the normal school timetable.
A blend of guided and independent learning tasks/experiences: Teacher-
pupil/student engagement should involve both direct teaching by the teacher and
the assignment of independent learning tasks for completion by the pupils/students.
Appropriate and engaging learning opportunities: Teachers should ensure that the
chosen learning tasks give pupils/students an opportunity to demonstrate their
learning in a clear and concise way.
Learning tasks: The tasks chosen should be specifically aligned to the needs of the
pupil/student, including pupils/students with special educational needs (SEN), and
should enable the teacher to monitor progress and give constructive,
developmental feedback to support the next stages in their learning.
Two-way feedback between home and school: Schools should ensure that two-way
feedback between teachers and parents/guardians and between teachers and their
pupils/students is encouraged and supported. Schools should provide manageable
and accessible opportunities for all pupils/ students to regularly share samples of
their work with the teacher(s) throughout each week. Teachers should ensure that
work received is corrected and relevant feedback is provided.
Support for pupils/students with special educational needs: Special education
teachers (SETs) should continue to engage with the pupils/students on their
caseloads and class/subject teachers should differentiate teaching and learning in
line with their pupils’/students’ needs to minimise disruption to their learning and
progression.
Further details are available here:
Guidance on Remote Learning in a COVID-19: Context: September –December
2020 For primary schools and special schools
Guidance on Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning in a COVID-19 Context
For post-primary schools and centres for education.
Circular 0074/2020
Guidance for parents/ guardians on supporting continuity of learning can be found
here and is available in multiple languages.
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Wellbeing
The wellbeing of all children and families is important, and the National Educational
Psychological Service has a range of supports available on gov.ie/schools in the parents
section which you may find useful. This material is being updated regularly so please check
back: Gov.ie/schools/wellbeing.